Porcine epidemic diarrhoea

Porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED), also occasionally referred to as porcine epidemic diarrhoea syndrome, is a non-zoonotic viral disease of pigs caused by a coronavirus and characterised by watery diarrhoea and weight loss. It was first identified and reported in 1971 but has now been diagnosed in naïve swine populations in countries previously not known to be affected by the disease. It affects pigs of all ages, but most severely neonatal piglets, reaching a morbidity and mortality of up to 100% with mortality decreasing as age increases. It is a contagious disease transmissible mainly by the faecal-oral route. The disease is clinically similar to other forms of porcine gastroenteritis including anorexia, vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration. The prevention and management control are focused on strict biosecurity and early detection. There is no specific treatment for the disease. PED is not included in the WOAH List of Diseases. However, consistent with the reporting obligations of Member Countries outlined in Article 1.1.4 of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code relating to emerging diseases, there has been an increase in the number of disease notifications received by and distributed through the WOAH’s World Animal Health Information System.